AllMovie

The pilot episode of Friends has all of the main characters meeting at their favorite coffee shop, Central Perk. Spoiled trust fund girl Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) has left her fiancé at the alter; showing up at the cafe in her wedding dress, she asks old high-school buddy Monica (Courteney Cox) if she can stay with her. Monica, meanwhile, goes on the first of many bizarre and failed dates that she will endure throughout the series. Ross (David Schwimmer) appears perennially depressed about his ex-wife, who left him for another woman. They all make ironic fun of Spanish soap operas and Ross admits to his crush on Rachel -- setting into motion the major emotional pull of the first two seasons. A highlight is Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) singing the first of many of what become her trademark silly songs: "Love is sweet as summer showers, love is a wondrous work of art; but your love, oh your love -- your love is like a giant pigeon crapping on my heart." This premiere episode originally aired on November 22, 1994.